Reading Philip Pullman -- he sneaks up on you. This first book in the His Dark Materials series reads like a Victorian penny dreadful, with urchin chiReading Philip Pullman -- he sneaks up on you. This first book in the His Dark Materials series reads like a Victorian penny dreadful, with urchin children and shady kidnappers and mysterious scientific procedures. It's hugely entertaining, but the best bit is the depth of description: chafing dishes full of poppies, Gyptians in their boats, what it would be like to be friends with a very intelligent and warlike polar bear.

The alternate universe slowly takes shape on an almost subconscious level, so you're reading along and suddenly something clicks into place and you exclaim "anbaric!" aloud, realizing what it means. It's very cool, an author who trusts that these things don't need to be pointed out with neon letters.

I read this as "The Northern Lights" (UK edition's name) and assumed that things would go along in an alternate-universe-fantasy way. And alone, this is a very, very good book. But when you go on to "Subtle Knife" and "Amber Spyglass" and go well beyond the usual boundaries of fantasy, that's when you realize how amazing this series really is....more

Fantastic blend of survivalism, self-interest, sacrifice, annihilation... I wish this one had been around when I was a teenager, I couldn't put it dowFantastic blend of survivalism, self-interest, sacrifice, annihilation... I wish this one had been around when I was a teenager, I couldn't put it down.

The pacing's amazing, the central hero's no stock character -- she's complicated and wrong and stubborn, and she's wonderful. The rest of the characters ring similarly true and original. The world is fully fleshed-out and menacing, even when it's all glitter and silks. Incredibly compelling, and once you get by the main character's name ("Katniss" -- there IS an explanation), it's easy to get totally engrossed.

They're going to make this into a film, though I don't quite know how. The wonderfully bloodthirsty children who've made this a publishing hit wouldn't be able to see the R-rated action onscreen. We'll see. Either way, the writing's certainly vivid enough to make the story come to life all on its own....more

There are minor lulls in the action, but not enough to dock a star. Everything's been amped up in this sequel -- morJust as good as the first. REALLY.

There are minor lulls in the action, but not enough to dock a star. Everything's been amped up in this sequel -- more danger, more repercussions, more awareness that politics in the Capital can have permanent consequences Panem-wide.

It's just incredibly enjoyable writing, and I'm really looking forward to the next in the series....more

Will, the boy from our universe who accidentally slips over into the world now containing Lyra Belacqua, is one of my favourite literary characters. HWill, the boy from our universe who accidentally slips over into the world now containing Lyra Belacqua, is one of my favourite literary characters. He's absolutely fierce, in a totally different way from Lyra's spitfire energy and daredevil instinct. In fact, he sort of reminds me of Ender Wiggin, except that Will has lived through grown-up responsibilities for a long time when we meet him.

The Subtle Knife is desperate and dangerous, and doesn't coddle its child characters. This is when we start to get a lot more insight into the theological themes of His Dark Materials, along with the wonderful addition of Mary Malone, who is already well down the path of scientific enlightenment when she comes across two very curious preteens.

Though a middle book in a series sometimes suffers, The Subtle Knife doesn't. It's a very strong setup for the final book, and takes The Golden Compass' fantasy-adventure storyline into something far deeper and important than you might expect....more

The writing in this book is transcendent. Some of the descriptions, which I won't spoil here, pop up in my mind years later because they're so perfectThe writing in this book is transcendent. Some of the descriptions, which I won't spoil here, pop up in my mind years later because they're so perfect and encapsulate an emotion with absolute clarity.

Everything comes together in this final book, and it all makes sense. No character falls apart or behaves in a way that feels false, and all the gears crash together while somehow making sense. Religion and theory and existence and pretty much every human emotion are on display and they're all heartbreaking, but in the best possible way. This is one of the only series I can think of where it felt cathartic, finishing the last book. I felt like I understood something I hadn't known before.

There weren't many layers here. That might partially be the problem with writing a main character who's part of the nobility -- thSuch a pretty cover.

There weren't many layers here. That might partially be the problem with writing a main character who's part of the nobility -- they tend to get a once-over where things like "I'm rich, have a castle and lots of nice clothes and servants" are established and then you're done. There's an effort to establish a political structure, but it's just not very strong.

There's a very strong feminist vibe throughout the book, and that is GREAT. And as far as I'm concerned it's not bashing readers over the head with things, it's just being straightforward in a way that young adult fantasy sometimes isn't. Gender imbalance in society is addressed, as are the practicalities of being a teenage woman traveling and sleeping rough. And when the romance hits, it's well-done. I'd bump the second half of the novel up a star if I could.

Worth a read, but maybe as a library book. This is not a heavy or intellectually taxing read. ...more

First up: this isn't really a sequel to "Graceling". It's a story based on the next country over, with totally different rules and characters. There'sFirst up: this isn't really a sequel to "Graceling". It's a story based on the next country over, with totally different rules and characters. There's one crossover character, but the books take place in different time periods as well, so... Anyone looking for a sequel, go read "Golden Compass".

You know, it's the same writing style in this one as the last one. Light, quick, interesting but not wholly enthralling. Fans of logical action, there's a pivotal scene in the book that is absolutely irrational and might make you want to chuck the book across the room, but it's the only major transgression. I think I liked the characters in this book better, even though we're back in the "oooh look how rich I am" class again. They were more interesting, with more history, and they intersected a lot more than the characters in "Graceling".

This is the sort of Young Adult that I honestly believe is best left to the young adults; the issues aren't particularly challenging, and the writing's not outstanding or moving. It's a quick read for adults, but I wouldn't call it memorable....more

I have to admit, I struggle with Dickens. And given that, I was due to struggle with Strange and Norrell.

The writing's great, thick and dense and realI have to admit, I struggle with Dickens. And given that, I was due to struggle with Strange and Norrell.

The writing's great, thick and dense and real in a way that very firmly establishes Strange's world in a place that's only about a millimetre away from our own. The fairies are proper fairies, scary and alien, and I'm always up for a bit of gothic suspense. But as I said, long serials have a way of defeating me, and I just couldn't get engrossed in this the way I wanted.

Thin. Pre-teens might like this, but it really didn't go anywhere for me. Same old girl-meets-dangerous-boy premise, and nothing was really vibrant orThin. Pre-teens might like this, but it really didn't go anywhere for me. Same old girl-meets-dangerous-boy premise, and nothing was really vibrant or important enough to compel me to even flick through it again. Not a very interesting mythology, either. Shrug....more

I love this book in a fierce, weird way. Maybe it's the fact that Richard's story starts with him being an assimilated Londoner, same as I was when II love this book in a fierce, weird way. Maybe it's the fact that Richard's story starts with him being an assimilated Londoner, same as I was when I first read Neverwhere. But every inch of this book is packed with strange, insane things that grow on you the more you think of them. All of the place names, the modes of travel, the dangerous transition points and terrible breaks in reality. Gaiman really sneaks up on you with some of them, where you think you're reading something quirky and surreal and then suddenly realize you're actually reading a very familiar, worrying emotion. A cool slight of hand.

But what makes this book a standout are Messrs Vandemar and Croup. And the Marquis, I suppose -- but mostly Vandemar and Croup, who I think will remain my bogeymen in the shadows for decades to come. Gentlemen murderers with the most exquisite dialogue, and the most horrifying trade tools. It's crazy, just thinking of them makes me grin, they're such bizarre, wonderful creations.

I pick this one up when I'm feeling homesick for London, before I'd pick up Bridget Jones. There's something very believable in that this Neverwhere London could exists just under the surface of the London we know, and it's an addictive feeling to go back to it. Like it's describing negative space....more

I would pore over this book for hours when I was a kid, taking each letter out of the perfect envelopes and devouring them like they were real. Ah, thI would pore over this book for hours when I was a kid, taking each letter out of the perfect envelopes and devouring them like they were real. Ah, the allure of other people's mail. The doodles on the folded paper, the different envelopes -- I had never encountered a book remotely like this, and it felt like I was touching art. It likely was the start of my crazed stationery obsession that continues today.

Call them star-crossed lovers, call them figments of the imagination, who knows what they were. I loved this book endlessly, and still do. It's insanely imaginative, and probably set me up perfectly to read "Sophie's World" a few years later.

Griffin and Sabine's letters are probably some of the most romantic things I've ever encountered. This book's perfect....more

I whipped right through this book and it left little impression on me. I'm not any sort of Oz fan, so maybe that's it, but thiClearly, I don't get it.

I whipped right through this book and it left little impression on me. I'm not any sort of Oz fan, so maybe that's it, but this just felt bleh. It's been done better in other places with original characters; in spots the plot here just felt shoehorned in, matching up with the set Oz story.

And worse than that, I just thought it boring. The entire end of the book was one long "eh". Oh well....more

I might be the wrong age range for this -- to me, it felt like an unholy blending of Neil Gaiman's "Neverwhere" and Shel Silverstein. But watered downI might be the wrong age range for this -- to me, it felt like an unholy blending of Neil Gaiman's "Neverwhere" and Shel Silverstein. But watered down versions of both, so there's no terror or joy or sadness, just an ongoing stream of quirky, slightly-clever gags.

Maybe I should be comparing it more to "The Phantom Tollbooth"? Either way, I found it confusingly gutted, without the emotion needed to prop it up and make it real....more

Here's the thing with this book: I can tell it's awesome. It's stuck in my memory in a lasting way. The scenes with the Starks, the snow, the Wall, thHere's the thing with this book: I can tell it's awesome. It's stuck in my memory in a lasting way. The scenes with the Starks, the snow, the Wall, the port city - all of it was vivid when I read it and it's lingered for almost a decade.

But this sort of intricate, epic political fantasy isn't really my thing. I have the same issues with Tolkien, it just takes a massive amount of effort that I don't necessarily want to expend. So while I enjoyed the first few books in this series, I dropped out before the fourth. Things were getting so complicated, I needed a flowchart. I hear there's going to be a TV show -- I'll definitely jump onboard then, but I think I got Epic Fatigue.

That said, man, Martin pulls no punches. These are terrifying books. Nothing is sacred, no one is safe, and the morals in play are akin to medieval mores... at best. Horrible people do horrible things, nice people do horrible things, people get locked in towers and beheaded and maimed and children die for no reason other than they are inconvenient. It is ruthless, and reading something written like that is a white-knuckle ride. And worst of all, it all makes logical sense. Everyone's motives are well-plotted and when something awful happens, your heart sinks because subconsciously, you know it's true to the character. Shiver.

So. If you can do the epics and you like military sagas, this is the best I've seen. But if you read the first one and feel like you've been run over by a train, there's always the TV series....more

Elizabeth Moon writes some kickass female characters. And this is the first woman character I ever encountered who was a no-nonsense, practical soldieElizabeth Moon writes some kickass female characters. And this is the first woman character I ever encountered who was a no-nonsense, practical soldier who operated in a military story without any weird little feminine flairs. Too often writers feel the need to feminize their soldiers, or introduce some sort of stereotypical "women's issue"-driven plot. With Moon, that doesn't happen. She just tells a kickass story where the lead is a woman, and deals with things as they come.

Moon herself was part of the Marine corps, and that clearly lends the book authenticity. All I can say is that for a teenage girl, this book was a beacon that signaled that the way I thought and felt and got irked at other books was okay -- and that books could be written where instead of questioning the authenticity of a female character, I could identify and cheer her on.

So that's it, really. If you've been reading books about female warriors and they've sent your eyebrows into your hairline, give Paksenarrion a try....more

This is a guilty pleasure. It's light and sometimes porny and hilariously overdescribed in places (once you start paying close attention to the descriThis is a guilty pleasure. It's light and sometimes porny and hilariously overdescribed in places (once you start paying close attention to the descriptions of Sookie's outfits, it's hard to stop despite them being horrifying to visualize), but I love the thick Southern atmosphere and the universe rules and the very engaging mystery storyline. It's a pick-me-up, one of those series I keep on buying, even when I think the quality's taking a nosedive. And now the TV series has cast Alexander Skarsgaard as Eric, all hope is lost.

Yep, I'm hooked on trashy Southern vampire mysteries. Hence the "guilty reads" tag, and also the reason I have this series on my Kindle -- easy access, and no fruity cover art giving me away on the subway.

ETA - no, seriously, I apparently am going to read these every summer. That's why I'm rating these a 4 ("really liked it") instead of a 3 ("liked it"). Because while I'm reading, it's really a 3, but then then the next year summer hits and I'm out in the hammock flicking through my Kindle looking for something to fill up a few hours and bam: Sookie books. (Also, when I start to blush like a lunatic because of the more tawdry passages, I can blame it on sunburn.)

It's like crackerjack at the ballpark. Do I crave crackerjack the rest of the year? No. But when I'm sitting in the stands and the guy comes by, I flag him down because crackerjack and baseball apparently make me happy. Same with Sookie and summer. I skip right by these the rest of the year, just like I never buy crackerjack from the supermarket. But when it gets hot and sluggish and all I want to do is unhook for a while, this is what I read.

I'm not particularly proud of this, by the way. But credit where credit's due: though Harris doesn't write fine literature, she sure knows how to make addictive candy, and there's a skill in that....more

I think the sixteenth time I read the phrase "during those two years I was a lab rat", I was pretty much done with this book. I got it the first dozenI think the sixteenth time I read the phrase "during those two years I was a lab rat", I was pretty much done with this book. I got it the first dozen times. The writer keeps restating the same basic plot points again and again, as though I forgot about them in the intervening twenty pages.

The metaphors and similes in this book are out of control, and sometimes seem wildly off-tone: some of them seemed fixed in the modern era, or specifically a resource-rich Westernized nation, that it was really disorienting. I also couldn't pin down what phase of industrialization this country is in -- there are bows and arrows but also large-scale factories. And I never really got a handle on the political situation, though that might be something explored in future books.

There's also an obsession with rats. Calling people "rat", being tempted with "cheese", eau de rat lingering in the air, rolling around in rat droppings and doing unhygenic things, snuggling with rats... The only other animals mentioned are dogs and horses, and fleetingly.

And in the end, I wasn't really sold on the reveals. I guessed one reveal about 50 pages in, and another reveal was just plain curious, and the final deus ex machina is bizarre. The entire book gets an underwhelmed "eh" from me; pretty run of the mill, template fantasy.

UPDATE: I've upgraded this to three stars after a second read - there are some relationship notes I appreciated more the second time around. ...more

Lackey is never a particularly challenging read, but at least I can usually finish the book. It's hard to even get throughWow, this book is horrible.

Lackey is never a particularly challenging read, but at least I can usually finish the book. It's hard to even get through "A Cast of Corbies", because the constant eye-rolling the writing prompts is giving me a headache. The characters are hideous little stereotypes, the Regina character is too Mary Sue to be true, and the plot... ouch. The potentially-interesting political intrigue angle is abandoned for huge stretches of time, and everyone gets dragged out of the Gypsy lifestyle into ACK-TING!

Basically, if you have some burning desire to be brought inside the exciting world of community theater, this book will give you a very thorough tour. If that doesn't float your boat, then you'll probably want to chuck this across the room by the time two characters are dimly discussing "how to paint a fake shrub".

Don't go into this book expecting much Menolly; this is Piemur's book. He's a pretty entertaining character usually so you'd think that's a good thingDon't go into this book expecting much Menolly; this is Piemur's book. He's a pretty entertaining character usually so you'd think that's a good thing, but in this installment he manages to take a personal journey similar to Menolly's in Dragonsong, and frankly he gets a little boring.

We do get some updates on Menolly, but she's older and established within the Hall hierarchy, and McCaffrey's decided to explore other bits of the Pern landscape using Piemur instead. Again, this is good for getting a lay of the land if you're going to read the other Pern novels, but when I pick up the Harper Hall books for a reread, I frequently find myself leaving this one on the shelf. It's just not as engaging, and the plot's contained to this book, so you might not even notice the omission if you do read the rest of Pern without this one. ...more

I loved this series as a teenager. It had sailing and music and family strife and living outdoors and a bunch of tiny dragons. Yep. Teen girl fantasyI loved this series as a teenager. It had sailing and music and family strife and living outdoors and a bunch of tiny dragons. Yep. Teen girl fantasy candy, at least for this teenager.

But having read them since, I'm still a fan. Both Dragonsong and the next in the series, Dragonsinger, are nice coming-of-age/independence stories. The writing's not particularly complex, but McCaffrey works hard to outline a social structure and detail the environment, and it's a nice place to live for the few hours it'll take to read the book....more

This book does a great job of taking the shy Menolly character from the first book and promptly putting her through Pern's version of boarding school.This book does a great job of taking the shy Menolly character from the first book and promptly putting her through Pern's version of boarding school. Unlike the first book, which focuses on Menolly's isolation, Dragonsinger forces her to interact with a cast of characters she's clearly going to have to live with for a long time. Luckily those characters are worth reading about, and we're not stuck in the school environment the whole time -- we get a look inside the dragonrider society and the aristocratic caste as well.

This is a fantastic starter series to ramp up to the core Pern Dragonrider books; they skew a little younger due to the central character's age, and you learn a lot about the Weyr system along the way....more

I know so many people who absolutely love this book, and I wanted to love it too. But it just doesn't do it for me. Maybe my expectations were too higI know so many people who absolutely love this book, and I wanted to love it too. But it just doesn't do it for me. Maybe my expectations were too high, but the unicorn's voice simpered in a way I just wasn't fond of, and the rest of the story was okay but not amazing. ...more

I think this was well out of my age range when I read it. By the time Eragon came along, I'd already read McCaffrey and Yolen and Tolkien and a bunchI think this was well out of my age range when I read it. By the time Eragon came along, I'd already read McCaffrey and Yolen and Tolkien and a bunch of the Eddings/Jordan/Lackey style of epic fantasy series. So this ended up just feeling like another one in a sequence.

I get it's a publishing sensation, but I suspect it's the author's backstory more than something outstanding about the writing. I didn't read any of the sequels, and can't remember anything outstanding about the plot....more

I can't possibly say anything about these books that hasn't already been said. They're great books in the English boarding school tradition; I grew upI can't possibly say anything about these books that hasn't already been said. They're great books in the English boarding school tradition; I grew up with Enid Blyton's school series, so it's a familiar format and the characters who populate the stories are great and punny and endearing and usually quite intelligent. And it's lovely to have a series that parents can read to children without feeling they've increased their chances of developing Type II diabetes.

Sometimes one of the books was a little lacklustre, but NEVER were any of the books bad or boring. And that's quite the feat to pull off over 7 installments. ...more

Addictive series, and one of the few where I think I've read every single book related to the world. The writing's light and engaging, the world-buildAddictive series, and one of the few where I think I've read every single book related to the world. The writing's light and engaging, the world-building doesn't overwhelm the storytelling, and -- well, telepathy and dragons. No wonder it hooks teenagers.

There's a little bit of politics, a little bit of looming doom, and a lot of personal discovery in these three books. And technically I guess romance, which is why I tagged this review like I did... Maybe romance. I don't know, you sort of have to figure that one out on your own. There's a very novel take on sexual expression here. It's not bad, it's just curious.

Anyhow, it's not the core of the story. And as usual, there are engaging characters and pretty fast-paced action, so the writing's engaging. Certainly a series I reread if I'm browsing the shelves on a lazy weekend....more

I'm probably never going to read Lord of the Rings again. But that's fine -- for my money, The Hobbit is much on the same level, just a shorter, snappI'm probably never going to read Lord of the Rings again. But that's fine -- for my money, The Hobbit is much on the same level, just a shorter, snappier version.

The single-volume format means that Tolkien is a lot more restrained, and he doesn't really spool off into long recitations of dwarf history or lore or get stuck in little plot whirlpools that never really get anywhere. I enjoyed reading this, I enjoyed that Bilbo can really be a dork sometimes, and the Ring is completely spooky while still being rather helpful.

I'm marking this as "epic" because it is technically the start of an epic series, but luckily it's stand-alone enough that you can enjoy it without feeling committed. Or you can watch the movies....more

Again, I can't do epics. I will watch the movie rather than read this again any day of the week. The writing's very dense, and it's clear that TolkienAgain, I can't do epics. I will watch the movie rather than read this again any day of the week. The writing's very dense, and it's clear that Tolkien was a major history buff. He's created a world that is fully, fully fleshed-out. He probably could have written you a tome that details every moment of Middle Earth for 5000 years (which may be "The Simarillion", actually -- I don't know, I only made it fifty pages into that one).

But I just don't have the patience for it. After reading these as a teenager, I've not really been tempted to go back. And each time I try, I'm quickly dissuaded; I'd rather read a new adventure than re-read an adventure I remember quite well. It's different with someone like Philip Pullman, whose writing is some sort of catnip to me. Tolkien just doesn't strike the same chord, so all hail Peter Jackson, and I'm afraid the books have largely been relegated to display-only on my bookshelf....more

Hilariously, I despised these books as a child. Long before I knew anything about Aslan and his status of Jesus-allegory Lion (and I refuse to spoilerHilariously, I despised these books as a child. Long before I knew anything about Aslan and his status of Jesus-allegory Lion (and I refuse to spoiler-tag that, as everyone on Earth knows about it), I developed a major grudge against him. I thought he was haughty and imperious and never explained anything to my satisfaction, and I didn't understand why he kept telling the girls what they could and could not do.

It was incredibly frustrating! People had recommended the series, and I hated it! There are parts of the books where one of the girls asks a question that I, the reader, was also thinking -- usually something insanely practical, like "what if we get lost in the woods?" or "what if that person isn't there?" And the Jesus-allegory Lion SHOUTS at her! Basically says "Do what I say! Do it!" And that made ten year old me ANGRY.

I like the White Witch, and the wardrobe idea was awesome enough for me to mimic with my mom's walk-in closet, and I used to think that Turkish Delight was some sort of Wonka-ish candy that you put in your mouth and it tasted like a whole turkey dinner. But it's extremely hard to like a series when you utterly loathe the "hero", and even when I reread it as an adult I felt like girls were getting a bad shake, so this one's no good for me. I won't even subject my kids to it. I'd far rather they read about Harry Potter instead....more

These were my introduction into science fiction and fantasy, and they're great. They're gory and desperate and cruel and wonderful. You can imagine hoThese were my introduction into science fiction and fantasy, and they're great. They're gory and desperate and cruel and wonderful. You can imagine how after years of beginner chapter books and Anne of Green Gables, something like this was a smack in the face.

Yolen outlines a world that is TOTALLY unlike our own. The main character is a bonded slave, born into a situation he hopes to buy his way out of. Nobility isn't always rewarded in this series, and sneakiness sometimes turns out to be the winning move. Refreshing when you're ten and just starting to get exactly how unfair the world can be -- and it's nice to see that understanding reflected in a book.

Honestly, if your kid's shown any interest in this sort of book, leave the first one lying around and see if they'll bite. The worldbuilding is incredibly creative, the dragon aspect totally cool, and the writing's just flat-out great -- Yolen is quality whenever she writes, and this is a stellar example of writing for children who can handle getting their minds blown. Honestly, a favourite series. I'm going to have to rummage through my library and see if I still own them to take another pass....more

Right from the start, this is a much more cutthroat book than most YA. Bits are grim and gory and cruel -- I'd actually score this as crueler than "ThRight from the start, this is a much more cutthroat book than most YA. Bits are grim and gory and cruel -- I'd actually score this as crueler than "The Hunger Games", because some of the things in Incarceron are just casual cruelty, the sort that has been typical throughout history but isn't necessarily represented in YA fiction. It's balanced by scenes straight out of Ye Olde Ren Faire as well, but... Some bits are intense.

The concept's great -- a mysterious prison experiment, a society trapped in a sort of rigid time-warp. The two are so truly separate that the prisoners think Outside is a myth, and the time-locked subjects think the prison is actually a self-regulating paradise. Obviously, no one is as happy as they're meant to be. As a girl in a world of corsets and castles tries to maneuver a manipulative political system, a boy with no memory struggles to escape a massive, byzantine prison. The contrast between the idealistic 19th-century Outside and the anarchistic prison is pretty shocking.

As it goes, the parallel tracks in "Incarceron" are well-balanced. There's the plot thread happening within the prison (the Incarceron of the title) and then the plot thread attached to the prison Warden's daughter. All the characters are well-sketched, as are the settings. I got really confused with certain Incarceron scenes just because I couldn't quite envision what was happening, but generally I could follow. Everyone's motivations made sense, at least.

This is certainly the set-up book for a series, but does stand on its own very well. I'd throw in another half-star if I could, based on potential for the sequel. For now, I enjoyed and understood the journey, but think that the next book is where things will really take off....more